Scientific discovery is a process that is incredibly exciting, complex, and unpredictable. But it is also a source of tremendous value, benefit, and utility. For example, research on the human brain led to the development of new medicines that reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Scientists recently discovered a planet 137 light-years away that may be capable of supporting life.
The philosophical debate about scientific discovery has been shaped by two traditions that differ in the way they conceptualize the nature and process of discovering science. The non-inferential tradition, which includes the work of Karl Popper, argues that it is impossible to identify and reconstruct the process by which scientific discoveries are made; new ideas are not generated in a rational way.
In contrast, the work of William Whewell helped to distinguish processes of conceiving a novel insight, articulating and developing that insight, and testing or verifying that insight. This approach became the point of orientation for late-20th century philosophy of science and spawned a revival of interest in discovering how and why we discover what we discover.
The history of scientific discovery is a roller coaster ride of exhilarating highs and deflating valleys. It is a rich and fascinating subject, and the authors of this book use historical sketches to construct a prehistory for current philosophical debates about the nature and process of scientific discovery. These sketches illustrate the fact that it is often impossible to pinpoint the exact moment of a scientific discovery or even the individual who made it.